Combat Mechanics and Emergent Complexity

Aidan Reichenberg shared this feedback 4 years ago
Submitted

I was inspired to write this upon hearing in an interview that Mark was thinking about the possibility of improving combat. The following suggestions will not be about what is added, but instead, how new weapons are implemented.

For context, we have two main weapon systems in the game: missiles and guns. However, there is a third type of weapon that I will refer to as an engineered weapon. These include gravity cannons, scripted missiles, etc.

In a game based around engineering, these types of engineered weapons are understandably more powerful than a simple turret, whether it be from exceeding the 800m range or having homing capabilities.

Another example of this type of engineering can be found in the Beam Systems Mod

https://steamcommunity.com/workshop/filedetails/?id=1741336630

Instead of adding a simple laser cannon, the mod adds several new blocks and mechanics. These work together to create a dangerous laser, useful to the player. The player is able to change the size, power, and shape of the system in order to fit any ship.

I hope Keen, assuming a combat update is coming, instead of just adding bigger and more powerful turrets, considers new combat mechanics and new block types.

Some suggestions:


  • different speeds limits for different grids
  • a higher speed limit for grids accelerated by gravity
  • magnets and magnetic attraction
  • more stable rotors for turrets
  • weapons that cause damage in a different way than kinetic ammo (electronic warfare?)
  • radar and locking mechanics
  • different types of armor

These types of game mechanics matter because it teaches the player that they are not finished once they weld 30 massive turrets on a ship. There is no "beating the game". Instead, emergent complexity makes the game more interesting. There always be a better or differently configured ship when combat is driven by simple mechanics that can be combined to make incredibly complex weapons.

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Accidentally submitted with no text. It is fixed now.

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